CAD International Directory 1986

290 Pages·1985·6.32 MB·English

by  Alison Smith (Eds.)

Editor
Alison Smith
Assistant Editor
JenniferSmith
Publisher
Amanda Harper
Computer-Aided Designisan international
journalpublished in February,March,
May,June,August,September,October,
November,December.
EditorialOffices:Butterworth Scientific
Ltd, POBox63,Westbury House,Bury
Street,Guildford,Surrey GU2 5BH,UK.
Tel:[phone].Telegramsand telex:
859556SCITEC G. computer-aided design
PublishingDirector:John Owens
Computer-AidedDesign ispublished by
Butterworth Scientific Ltd. Registered
Office: ButterworthScientific Ltd,
88 Kingsway, LondonWC26AB, UK
CAD International Directory 1986
Subscriptionenquiriesand orders:Quadrant
SubscriptionServices Ltd,Oakfield House,
Perrvrnount Road, Haywards Heath,West 3 Introduction to the Directory
Sussex RH163DH,UK.Tel: [phone]
Annualsubscription (10 issues): £158.00 5 Survey of the CADfield
Overseasrate (£35.00for students); David Cowan
S284.00USrate (S63.00 for students).
UKsubscriptionratesavailableon request.
11 Recent developments incomputer-aided design and
Pricesincludepackingand delivery by sea
engineering
mail. Airmailpricesavailableon request.
Copies of thisjournal sent to subscribersin R MSim
Bangladesh, India, Pakistan,SriLanka,
Car-adaand the USAare air-speededfor 17 Workstations - presentand future trends
quickerdelivery.
Howard Rippiner
Back issues: Prior to currentvolumeavail
able fromWmDawson & Sons Ltd,Cannon 23 Future developments inthe CADenvironment
House, Folkestone,KentCT195EE,UK.
Tel:[phone] Tony Hoare
Microformcopiesand reprints are available
30 Directory guidelines
from UMI,300NZeeb Rd, Ann Arbor,
MI48106,USAand 30/32 MortimerSt,
London, UK. 31 Section 1: CADSoftware
USmailing agents: Expeditersof the Printed
Word Ltd,515 Madison Avenue,Suite 1217, 129 Section 2: CADComponents Supplied
NewYork, NY10022,USA.Secondclass
postagepaid at NewYork,NY.USPost 130 Section 2A: Workstations
master:Send addresscorrectionsto
Computer-AidedDesign, clo Expeditersof 144 Section 2B: Display Devices
the PrintedWord Ltd,addressasabove.
Reprints: Minimum order 100,available 162 Section 2C: Plotters
from the publisher.
Copyright: Readerswhorequirecopiesof 181 Section 3: CADTurnkey Systems
paperspublished inthisjournalmay either
purchasereprints or obtain permissionto 237 Section 4: CADConsultancies
copyfrom thepublisherat thefollowing
address:ButterworthScientific Ltd, PO 253 Section 5: CADBureaux Services
Box63, Westbury House, Bury Street,
Guildford,SurreyGU2 5BH,UK. For
269 Section 6: CADOrganizations
readersintheUSA, permissionto copy is
givenon thecondition thatthecopierpay
thestatedper copyfee throughtheCopy 273 Section 7: CADServices
right ClearanceCenter lnc.,26 Congress
Street,Salem,MA01979, USA, Tel: (617) 279 Section 8: CADTraining and Education
744-3350,for copyingbeyond that
permittedby Sections107and 108of the 287 Namesand Addresses of Suppliers
USCopyright Law. Feesappear inthecode
at the footof thefirst page of majorpapers.
299 Indexes to sections
ISSN0010-4485 ISBN0408255552
CADA5 17(61256-298
©Butterworth& Co (Publishers) Ltd 1985
Allrights reserved. Nopartof thispublica
tionmay be reproduced,storedina
retrievalsystemor transmitted,inany form
orby any means,electronic,mechanical,
photocopying,recordingor otherwise,with
outthe writtenpermissionof the publisher.
ThispublicationislistedinCurrentContents.
CAD InternationalDirectory 1986
Editor
Alison Smith
Assistant Editor
JenniferSmith
Publisher
Amanda Harper
Computer-Aided Designisan international
journalpublished in February,March,
May,June,August,September,October,
November,December.
EditorialOffices:Butterworth Scientific
Ltd, POBox63,Westbury House,Bury
Street,Guildford,Surrey GU2 5BH,UK.
Tel:[phone].Telegramsand telex:
859556SCITEC G. computer-aided design
PublishingDirector:John Owens
Computer-AidedDesign ispublished by
Butterworth Scientific Ltd. Registered
Office: ButterworthScientific Ltd,
88 Kingsway, LondonWC26AB, UK
CAD International Directory 1986
Subscriptionenquiriesand orders:Quadrant
SubscriptionServices Ltd,Oakfield House,
Perrvrnount Road, Haywards Heath,West 3 Introduction to the Directory
Sussex RH163DH,UK.Tel: [phone]
Annualsubscription (10 issues): £158.00 5 Survey of the CADfield
Overseasrate (£35.00for students); David Cowan
S284.00USrate (S63.00 for students).
UKsubscriptionratesavailableon request.
11 Recent developments incomputer-aided design and
Pricesincludepackingand delivery by sea
engineering
mail. Airmailpricesavailableon request.
Copies of thisjournal sent to subscribersin R MSim
Bangladesh, India, Pakistan,SriLanka,
Car-adaand the USAare air-speededfor 17 Workstations - presentand future trends
quickerdelivery.
Howard Rippiner
Back issues: Prior to currentvolumeavail
able fromWmDawson & Sons Ltd,Cannon 23 Future developments inthe CADenvironment
House, Folkestone,KentCT195EE,UK.
Tel:[phone] Tony Hoare
Microformcopiesand reprints are available
30 Directory guidelines
from UMI,300NZeeb Rd, Ann Arbor,
MI48106,USAand 30/32 MortimerSt,
London, UK. 31 Section 1: CADSoftware
USmailing agents: Expeditersof the Printed
Word Ltd,515 Madison Avenue,Suite 1217, 129 Section 2: CADComponents Supplied
NewYork, NY10022,USA.Secondclass
postagepaid at NewYork,NY.USPost 130 Section 2A: Workstations
master:Send addresscorrectionsto
Computer-AidedDesign, clo Expeditersof 144 Section 2B: Display Devices
the PrintedWord Ltd,addressasabove.
Reprints: Minimum order 100,available 162 Section 2C: Plotters
from the publisher.
Copyright: Readerswhorequirecopiesof 181 Section 3: CADTurnkey Systems
paperspublished inthisjournalmay either
purchasereprints or obtain permissionto 237 Section 4: CADConsultancies
copyfrom thepublisherat thefollowing
address:ButterworthScientific Ltd, PO 253 Section 5: CADBureaux Services
Box63, Westbury House, Bury Street,
Guildford,SurreyGU2 5BH,UK. For
269 Section 6: CADOrganizations
readersintheUSA, permissionto copy is
givenon thecondition thatthecopierpay
thestatedper copyfee throughtheCopy 273 Section 7: CADServices
right ClearanceCenter lnc.,26 Congress
Street,Salem,MA01979, USA, Tel: (617) 279 Section 8: CADTraining and Education
744-3350,for copyingbeyond that
permittedby Sections107and 108of the 287 Namesand Addresses of Suppliers
USCopyright Law. Feesappear inthecode
at the footof thefirst page of majorpapers.
299 Indexes to sections
ISSN0010-4485 ISBN0408255552
CADA5 17(61256-298
©Butterworth& Co (Publishers) Ltd 1985
Allrights reserved. Nopartof thispublica
tionmay be reproduced,storedina
retrievalsystemor transmitted,inany form
orby any means,electronic,mechanical,
photocopying,recordingor otherwise,with
outthe writtenpermissionof the publisher.
ThispublicationislistedinCurrentContents.
CAD InternationalDirectory 1986
Introduction
Welcome to the CAD International Yearbook 1986. This is services range from engineers who require drawings pro
the latest in the series of directories of products and sup duced by a computer drafting system and commission a
pliers in the CAD field. We hope it will prove an invaluable bureau to carry out the work, to those companies who
buyer's guide and intend it to be a useful all-year-round want to find the most efficient method possible of stream
reference book which will tell you who sells what in your lining design in their factories and call in a consultant to
field of interest and where to contact them. advise them.
The products listed in the directory cover the whole The services covered in the directory are consultancies,
range of the CAD field; the sections cover software, a wide bureaux, other CAD services, training and education, and
range of system components, and turnkey systems. Hund CAD organizations. These are intended to provide an
reds of companies have filled in questionnaires and listed advisory and back-up service to the CAD user, and the
the range of hardware and software which they sell. While potential user. Information given in these sections was also
this does not claim to be an exhaustive collection of all taken from questionnaires completed by the companies
the CAD vendors worldwide, it will provide you with a included.
valuable collection of information on the kind of products For information on how to use the directory, please
available, and allows you to compare the terms and prices turn to the section called 'Directory guidelines' on p 30.
offered for the same product by different companies. I hope you find this book easy to use, and that it will prove
The directory also gives you the names of many an essential reference book for your CAD year.
specialists in the CAD field who offer services to the
CAD community. People who can benefit from these Alison Smith
CAD International Directory 1986 3
Survey of the CAD field
David Cowan
them. The minis may be connected to each other to create
This paper surveys the current state of the CAD field.
something resembling a centralized system. This means that
Questions of the hardware and software required for CAD
if one minicomputer fails, then only some terminals are
are covered. The areas of drafting, solid modelling, finite
affected. However, the hardware for this could make it more
element analysis and interactive graphics standards are
expensive than a centralized system.
examined in some detail. Some of the problems of
Distributed processing entails each terminal being con
computer-integrated manufacture are also discussed
nected to one computer, each computer then being linked
in a network. The computers can be of any size, and the
computer technology, computer-aided design, computer-integrated
network allows use of shared peripherals.
manufacture
Finally, a standalone workstation is adedicated computer
used by one engineer. The engineer has use of a graphics
Computer-aided design and acronyms such as CAM, CAE,
screen and keyboard. The computer will be either a large
CIM, have become 'buzz' terms in today's industry. It is an
microcomputer or a smaller minicomputer. This type of
area of technology that has divided opinion and attracted
system is used by consultants, freelance engineers, and
esoteric description. This introductory guide is an attempt
colleges. The main problem here is the small memory size
to see the wood rather than the trees of this significant
which will limit the features which CAD offers to the
technology.
engineer. Expansion is also limited by most standalones.
CAD has been revolutionizing the work of engineers and
designers in the past few years and will continue to grow in CADCAM systems usually have a memory in the 256
importance. CAD is a tool that is used by the engineer to Kbyte to 8 Mbyte range of RAM (random access memory).
tackle design problems, thus creating a joint effort between The engineer using some mainframes or miniframes can gain
the engineer and the computer. unlimited memory by continually moving data between the
The engineer is able to use CAD to create, visualize and main memory and backing store. Because the memory of
test his design. Modification can be made until the design computers is volatile the engineer needs a storage media for
suits the engineer's requirements. Regularly featured design his programs and data.
components can be stored in the memory and called up to The backing store for most CADCAM systems is magnetic
speed the design process. The great advantage to the engineer disc. A nonremovable disc such as the Winchester type is
is that he can concentrate on the design rather than the task popular with CAD users, because of its cost-effectiveness.
of drawing his design. Such discs can retain 4 Mbyte to 300 Mbyte of information.
The engineer can use CAD in three broad areas of his Removable discs can also be used, either in the form of hard
work. First, as a drafting tool for his drawings. Second, as or floppy disc. A hard disc could store about 20 Mbyte while
modeller to replace wood or clay models. Third, as a design the floppy can store from 125 Kbyte up to 1.5 Mbyte.
analyst which can break down complex components into There are two basic interface methods to link the com
simple parts. Finite element methods have increasingly be puter with other parts of the engineer's workstation. First,
come an aid to design and analysis in engineering. a serial connection using an RS232 or RS422 link or a
The preceding brief outline illustrates the versatility of parallel connection for data interchange. The parallel inter
CAD and its place in the engineering environment. Now face gives a high transmission speed which is required by
we need to consider the hardware that is available to the some workstations.
engineer in using CAD.
Displays
HARDWARE
Graphics displays are essential to the workstation, and there
There are four hardware system types available to the
are three types. First, the raster display, which uses a cathode
engineer. These are as follows:
ray tube (CRT) similar to that of a television or a micro
computer monitor. Second, the vector display, which uses
• centralized system
a CRT with a phospher coating on the inner surface of the
• multiple host system
screen. This type of display allows the user to operate
• distributed processing
directly on the viewed object, making changes in the mem
• standalone workstation
ory which are immediately reflected on the screen, and gives
realtime modelling and screen image manipulation. A light
The centralized system is based on a mainframe which
pen can be used on this display.
supports a large number of terminals for users. The main
Finally, a storage tube with direct view (DVST) retains
frame will also support discs, plotters and printers. This type
graphic images longer on the CRT. The DVST cannot make
of system is usually used by large organizations. The disad
use of a light pen, and cannot be selectively erased because
vantage here is that the mainframe may be heavily subscribed
parts of the image cannot be detected.
and the engineer's work will be slowed down by the length
of response time.
Input devices
The multiple host system consists of a number of mini
computers with a limited number of terminals connected to There are a number of input devices available to the engineer.
Glasgow, Scotland, UK A graphics tablet is a small, low resolution digitizing board
CAD International Directory 1986 0408 255 552 0010-4485/85/100005-06 $03.00 © 1985 Butterworth & Co (Publishers) Ltd 5
often used in conjunction with a graphics terminal. The processes.
tablet area corresponds to the face of the CRT and is mani Modelling gives 3D representations, thus bypassing the
pulated by a stylus which can relate its movements on the need to make physical models. Solid modelling can be used
tablet to the display. The tablet can be divided into a menu for seeing the end product as it will appear, and can be
featuring all the required design functions. coloured and shaded. Simpler modelling can be done in the
Another input device, larger, but similar in principle to form of line drawings, which is a great deal cheaper and uses
the tablet, is the digitizing board. The board looks like a less memory than solid modelling.
conventional drafting board, but the digital coordinates are Finite element methods are used for analysis and design.
related from the board to the display by means of a stylus Packages usually include preprocessors and postprocessors
or a cursor. for meshing (model definition) and graphic visualization.
Joysticks, tracking balls and mouses are used to specify All three systems mentioned here are written in machine
the point on a display where a certain instruction is to be independent high level languages such as ANSI Fortran or
obeyed. These devices control the movement of a cursor (in Pascal.
the form of an arrow or a cross), and can also be used to CAD systems can be either menu driven or command
select sets of instructions on a menu. driven. The menu can be etched onto a tablet or used with
A light pen is an input device used to draw or move items other input media. The command driven system gives the
around the screen by setting points on the display with the engineer more freedom in the creation of geometry and
tip of the pen. Once the computer has detected the points shapes, since he supplies his own command lines. This makes
the engineer is informed by a small circle (or something the work more difficult and is carried out by an engineer
similar) being placed round the point. The instruction is familiar with the system he is using.
then carried out.
These devices are operated in conjunction with the term
DESIGN PROCESS
inal, which converses with the computer when the work
station is not in a CAD mode. It main use is manipulation Having considered the hardware and software requirements
of text, which is required by all CAD software at different of the engineer, we need to examine in more detail the
points of the design process. design process. To do this we return to drafting, modelling,
and finite element analysis.
Conventionally a draftsman uses a drawing board, instru
Output devices
ments and either paper or film to do his drafting. This in
For output, apart from the display, the engineer requires a volves little capital cost and much flexibility. The final
plotter. This will give him his hardcopy, and produce a drawing can be accurate and attractive. However, the labour
finished drawing. There are various kinds of plotters on the costs are h igh and each drawing takes a long time to complete.
market, most using black and white print. The most common His work involves tedium, with many of the components
type of plotter is the drum plotter. This has the paper on a having to be drawn more than once. Technically, the main
drum with a pen moving across parallel to the axis of the weakness is in dimensional control over a drawing, since
drum in a lateral pan movement. dimensions are not inherent in the drawn outline or profile.
Other types of plotter used are: High capital costs are involved in implementing CAD,
but the disadvantages in the conventional methods are over
• flatbed, for increased drawing accuracy come. In addition to this, costs are reduced and the engineer
• vertical bed, which is positioned like a conventional can concentrate on his design rather than the drawing itself.
drawing board Also in modelling costs are cut in man hours and the quality
• photoplotter, which uses a light source on photosensitive of the viewed product is much higher. Finally, one has to
media and is suitable for printed circuit masters recognise that costs of CAD are coming down, and this will
• electrostatic printer/plotter, which is of the dot matrix eventually lessen the burden of implementing CAD.
type For these reasons, and the CAD link with the manufac
• colour plotter, which uses an ink jet, a raster device with turing process, CAD is being introduced in place of drafting.
metered ink to control colour type and quantity. The basic format of drafting is 2D, using points and lines to
represent a structure or product. All the normal drafting
procedures are followed with key components stored in
SOFTWARE
memory. These components can be varied by inputting
Two types of software are used: systems and applications. dimensions thus creating afamily of components. Parametric
The systems software is needed to perform the operation of preprocessing of this sort makes CAD a very powerful tool.
the computer and other software needs. The applications When completing a drawing, the engineer can add dimen
software is the specific CAD package. sion lines and toleranced dimensions. The ability to generate
The systems software is much the same as in any other vertical, horizontal and angular dimensions to a standard
area of computing, except to say that Unix is the common form is essential, and so most packages provide automatic
operating system on many large CAD systems. The main dimensioning routines.
concern of this article is the applications software. It is this Another useful facility is windowing. This means that a
that makes the hardware described above into a CAD system. portion of a drawing can be enlarged to fill the screen,
There are three main areas of CAD software, commonly allowing the engineer to manipulate the drawing in close
known as computer-aided drafting, modelling, and finite detail. The detail can be zoomed into, and out of, without
element analysis. affecting the design process or the overall drawing. Deletion
Many drafting systems can be bought Off-the-shelf and of portions of a drawing can be done a lot easier than from
give the engineer 2D drafting and plotting facilities as a conventional drawing, and most packages have a feature
standard. There are more sophisticated programs available, to ensure that the engineer is not deleting the wrong portion.
including some that allow the data to be used in CAM Storage of a design is easily done on a backing store, so
6 CAD International Directory 1986
that the engineer can return to his work later. Conventional Finite element analysis
methods meant drawings were at risk in the dusty environ
Structural analysis is essential to the engineering design
ment of the drawing office, drawings could also be stained.
process, but this is often difficult in complex form analysis.
The plotter copy can always be replaced, should damage be
CAD offers an accurate and speedy answer to this problem.
done, providing that the original is stored on tape or disc.
Finite element methods (FEM) analyse components by
regarding the construct as an assemblage of discrete elements
of simple shape. These are then considered as joined together
Modelling
at nodes on their boundaries.
Modelling used to be a manual method which demanded A group of elements representing a construct or com
the make-up of a wire or solid model to give an impression ponent is called a 'mesh'. A mesh could be used to represent
of a finished product, which could be costly. An example the construct of an oil rig or could be used to represent
of this can be found in the textile industry. A sample is a component used in the construct of a rig. So the mesh is
made up for the customer to make a decision on a particular used to represent many and varied shapes.
fabric design, which is a costly exercise. Now using CAD A major use for FEM is the calculation of displacements
tools, a solid model of the design can be made up for a at nodes for a given applied force to the construct. The
customer, thus reducing costs and giving flexibility to make relationship between the forces and the format for accept
modifications. This CAD tool has been developed at the ance by the analysis program.
Textile College in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders. A postprocessor is used to define the significance of finite
The market has demanded this change, for customers element (FE) analysis by producing graphic displays and
want to see the actual shaped products during the design documentation of the results to supplement or replace trad
process. Also, the actual shape helps the designer in the itional computer print-outs. These programs interface with
design process. 3D objects can be modelled in one of three the finite element analysis and are useful for manipulation
ways: wireframe, surface, and solid. by the engineer according to his own interests.
A wireframe model consists of a set of 3D coordinates Most outputs from programs include the following results:
which define the lines of a construction. The information a list of displacements at each node in the construct; a list
given is only in terms of the construction's framework, and of forces at each node, broken down into the contributions
so only provides a partial notion of the construction. This from each element; stresses in global coordinates for each
type of model does not provide information on the proper element; and, principal stresses and maximum and minimum
ties of the construct, such as volume or mass. But it does shear stresses and directions in which they act.
give an impression (and uses less memory), and so it is widely This is an expensive process, and the more complex the
used in CAD. element, the more computer time is required. Complicated
Surface models uses the points and lines of a wireframe models take up a lot of the engineer's time and are prone to
but also gives the impressions of edges, thus hiding portions data errors. In some advanced analysis a relatively simple
of the construct. Surface areas can be calculated from this, model may need to be run many times to simulate time
and some systems allow for shading of the construct. Surface histories. Finally, another drawback is the need to specify
models are mainly used for analysing complex surfaces, such the model numerically, for example all material properties
as those required in aerodynamic constructs, eg cars, planes, and loading must be definable in pattern and magnitude.
etc. Another problem for the engineer is the vast array of FE
Finally, the most powerful and impressive form of software available. Some packages are industrially based,
modelling, that of solid modelling. This type of model gives that is to say they have arisen out of the needs of a specific
the engineer a complete description of the construct; shape, industrial task. Other packages differ on the preprocessing
surface, volume and density. Because of the unambiguous and postprocessing provided.
form of the model, solid modelling is the best route to The software solution can be of three types:
CAM. These models are also being used as marketing tools.
Solid modelling can be divided into two descriptive • the inhouse option, which means buying in the equip
methods. First, constructive solid geometry (CSG), which ment and employing a specialist to support the software
relates the elements needed to construct a component, and • the bureau option, which saves on equipment and offers
the operations to combine them. With this model the final a broader range of software
edges and faces are not represented. This is done with • the option of subcontracting the work to a bureau or
boundary representation, which shows the connections software house with CAD experience, for the occasional
together with the geometry of each detail. The boundary user this may be the most obvious route
representation method provides fast image generation,
direct user interaction, and a variety of modelling operations. Due to the wide range of options in accessing CAD and the
The boundary representation model provides full boun software packages on the market, an attempt has been
dary information and can therefore be used to process this made to standardize the FE software. The National Agency
data to produce NC machine tapes or a finite element mesh for Finite Element Methods and Standards (NAFEMS) has
description. However, such models do take up a lot of been set up by the National Engineering Laboratory in the
memory, typically about 400 Kbytes. UK with funding from the UK Department of Trade and
3D modellers can be used for many engineering applica Industry (DTI) Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
tions. Alone the modeller may be used in the design process Research Requirements Board. It is too early to assess the
for visualization of constructs, or it can be used in drafting, success of such a body, except to say that standardization is
finite element analysis, CAM and robotics. Robot actions required all over the computer industry but is still a long
can be simulated before use with a 3D modeller, so that way off.
robots working in the same area can be checked for clashing Outlined above are the benefits and drawbacks of FEM,
and interference. and the integration with CAM that has been going on has
CAD International Directory 1986 7
boosted the benefits considerably. The ever decreasing costs • check units used in drawings, dimensioning rules,
of such systems has added to the attractiveness of FEM, standards
and also the fact that bureaux exist means that potential • agree level discipline, identification procedures, drawing
users can access FEM before actually buying in a system. file conventions
• discuss how the receiver will plot: plotter type, non-
standard plot sizes, pen choice
Interactive graphics • finalize sizing and scaling procedures
An important area of CAD in recent times has been the
The level discipline refers to all the information which would
development of an interactive graphics standard, IGES.
traditionally need to appear on paper or mylar as a drawing.
IGES is a format for communicating information about
If the drawing is regarded as several transparencies which
product design and manufacturing. It is useful for firms
are overlaid, then each transparency is called a level.
using a number of subcontractors or a variety of systems.
Computer graphics and IGES will no doubt be the growth
IGES is designed to link otherwise incompatible CAD
areas of CAD in the next few years. They have applications
installations, thus dispensing with the need to reinput data
in visualization of products for the engineer, the manager
or update it, and the time and errors that this can entail.
and the marketing people.
The way in which IGES works is by creating a special
file with an IGES preprocessor in the first system. This is
Visual simulation techniques
then transmitted, postprocessed and read in the second
Another aspect of graphics is visual simulation techniques,
system. The IGES users will have agreed the format of the
which are used to assist the work of operational research.
information to be transmitted.
This technique is not always associated with CAD, yet it is
Having originally been developed in the USA by the US
clearly an application of CAD that cannot be ignored. Istel,
Air Force, IGES has undergone considerable changes by the
the software subsidiary of British Leyland has been an
US National Bureau of Standards. It became widely avail
innovator in this field, with a product called 'See Why'.
able to the US industry in the early 1980s and is now widely
'See Why' was implemented by BL's Longbridge plant,
used there.
as a system for optimizing a complex series of production
At present 2D and 3D information, including surfaces,
and store processes by simulating production flow. This
and mesh data for finite element modelling can be exchanged
minimized the cost and the size of facilities needed to sup
using IGES 1.0 and/or, IGES 2.0 processors. IGES 3.0 pro
port production. The system is based on a 16-bit micro
cessors are now being developed in the USA, and this will
together with a large colour display to provide an animated
allow for solid modelling. IGES is now under development
representation of a complex situation.
in the UK under the auspices of the National Economic
The OR specialist can use the system to construct and
Development Organization (NEDO). NEDO's Engineering
manipulate a complex model — mathematically, visually
Construction and Process Plant Economic Development
and interactively — in order to establish optimum control
Committee decided that IGES was a useful tool for UK
rules for running a process plant, batch and flow-line pro
industry. The project that it set up at Leeds University
cesses or even the flow of passengers through air terminals.
under the direction of Dr Susan Bloor, illustrates the issues
The system is fully interactive, so that if the model makes a
involved in IGES.
decision disagreeable to the operator he can override it and
In the project suppliers and users of CAD have been
see the effect.
invited to participate. The objectives are to produce guide
This system illustrates one of the many aspects of graphics
lines about IGES, which Dr Bloor has done, and to embark
in CAD. Other aspects include holography, animation and
on the first phase, which covers work in 2D annotated
manipulated images, shading on illuminating techniques,
drawings. The project also has support from the DTI.
and video. These have their applications in the communica
The guidelines will, it is hoped, be accepted as part of
tions industry and marketing as well as education.
British Standards. The work so far has been a pilot for what
the DTI call a 'club' project split into five phases. These are:
COMPUTER INTEGRATED MANUFACTURE
• transfer of drawings and annotation
• transfer of annotated drawings including bills of This is a controversial area, which the novice needs to
quantity, lists, etc beware of. Many companies are claiming an 'integrated
• transfer of models philosophy' which has little or no substance. Yet it is the
• transfer of full databases 'buzz' word in the CAD industry at the moment.
• CAM The philosophy of computer integrated manufacture
(CIM) is the idea that CAD, CAM, hardware and software,
This work will eventually be expanded to include the needs are all integrated, so as to work as one system. It is an
of industry generally. The first phase has been completed, appealing idea, but hard to carry out in practice. Those
the second phase was completed in September 1985, and companies who have already some CADCAM facilities may
the third phase is now in progress. find it difficult to integrate without scrapping some equip
The guidelines written by Dr Bloor include a useful ment.
checklist of points to be considered when preparing to Some headway has been made, however, but it is for the
implement IGES. These are: companies with a large CADCAM budget. Such companies
have to pay heavily in money, time and expertise. These
• define purpose of transfer, number of drawings, size of companies need to employ someone to work direct with
drawings the systems, and often have to work closely with their
• verify compatability of CAD systems, tape decks, CADCAM vendors. Much of the software has to be custom
version number and features of IGES processors designed, and this adds to the cost. Yet, 'integration' will
8 CAD International Directory 1986
continue to be an important consideration in CAD and processors.
CAM, however, it is still a term to be wary of. CSG Constructive solid geometry, a type of
generation of solids model.
CONCLUSIONS Design A piece of software which automates a
tools part of the design process. It may be part
This introduction has covered the major aspects of CAD
of a CAD system or may be used alone.
and its potential use, as well as the areas where development
Digitizer A large version of the graphics tablet,
work is going on which will affect the CAD industry in the
enabling the user to enter existing draw
future. It is appropriate to end on the somewhat uncertain
ings into a CADCAM system by pointing
note of 'integration', for there we enter the realms of CAM,
with a puck or pen at line end points.
automation, CNC tools, robotics, FMS, and other exciting
Double The use of two computer words to
developments. The future of integration may determine the
precision represent a number.
future of both the CAD and the CAM aspects of computer-
dragging The action of dynamically moving parts
aided engineering.
selected from the display across the screen
under the control of a device, such as a
mouse.
APPENDIX 1. A GLOSSARY OF CAD TERMS
Drawing The area of the screen reserved by the
Abstraction The application of a simple model to a area computer memory for the generation of
more complex object in order to either drawings.
determine a rational decomposition into Finite A technique by which a component is
less complex parts, or isolate a particular element defined as being made up of many
aspect of function or structure of a analysis elements, each with different forces
complex object. acting upon it. By calculating the indivi
Add A basic system command to enter geo dual displacement of each element for a
metry onto a drawing area in memory. given force applied to the component, the
Applications Software written specifically for solving a overall displacement of the component
software set of unique tasks, eg. FE software or can be computed.
drafting software. Finite The process of describing a component in
Algorithm A step-by-step description of a procedure element terms of element shapes and their loca-
which performs a well defined function, modelling tions. This can be done by mesh generation
eg a conventional computer program. software or manually.
Archival A computer peripheral device to store Graphics tablet A small low resolution digitizer.
storage copies of drawings, models or programs as Graphics Special hardware to perform picture image
a back-up to the main memory. processor manipulation (eg zooming in or out) in
Associativity The ability of CAD systems to reflect order to relieve the host processor of
(of views) changes made in one view in every other these tasks.
affected view on the drawing. Hidden lines The edges of an object whigh would not
Boundary A set of edges which describe the peri- be visible from a particular viewpoint. 3D
file phery of a solid model. This is produced surface modellers and some wireframe
as an output from the solid modeller with modellers are able to remove these lines
hidden lines shown dashed or removed in automatically,
each view. Host A computer which provides resources to
CAD A computer-aided design system consists attached workstations and possibly to
of a set of CAD tools which are usually other systems.
algorithms which automate particular Intelligence A term for the degree of local processing
steps in the design process. ability within a CADCAM device.
CADCAM Used to mean computer-aided design, Layers Discrete levels of information in a
drafting and manufacturing using an computer-generated drawing. Any one or
interactive graphics workstation, but is more layers can be viewed together on the
now used more generally to cover the screen, with the ability to turn specified
whole area of computerization of manu layers on or off. Separate layers are
facture. usually reserved for part geometry,
CAE The concept of automating all steps construction lines, hatching, etc.
involved in bringing about a product and Linear A function of a control whereby data
enabling all disciplines to access and share interpolation points are generated between given
the data created by others. coordinate positions to allow simultaneous
CAM Application of computerization to the movement of two or more axes of motion
manufacturing process. in a straight line.
CIM The concept of integrating all functions Overlay A menu card containing command instruc
of the design and manufacture of a tions placed on a graphics tablet.
product, using computers. Pan A command which moves the viewing
Clash The ability of the CADCAM system to window around the drawing area, but
detection detect if an object is invading the space of without altering the window width.
another. Parametric A part which has been created with one
Communication Electrical connection between work- symbol or more variable dimensions, whose actual
link stations and processors or between value may be dictated by the user. Used to
CAD International Directory 1986 9
construct families of similar components. editing.
Pixel An addressable point on the screen of a Resolution A measure of the density of addressable
raster display. points on a display screen. The higher the
Pocketting A machining operation to remove all the resolution the better the quality of
material within a defined boundary. displayed image.
Postprocessor A software routine which converts data Snapping The action of automatically 'pulling*
which has been analyzed into suitable geometry to the nearest grid point or to
form for output to a final stage in a other geometry on a drawing.
CADCAM activity. They are used for Solid The complete geometric description of
such things as converting NC toolpath modelling the space occupied by an object.
information into the correct format for Spline Used in modelling, a curve which the
use by a machine tool, or for converting system has fitted smoothly over a set of
FE analysis data into a form which is points. The user has control over the
suitable for graphical visualization. tightness of the fit and other characteris­
Protocol The message framework within which data tics.
is transmitted down a communications Surface of A surface model created by rotating a
line. revolution profile about an axis.
Raster A display device which scans drawing Workstation The CADCAM users environment, com­
refresh data, on a line-by-line basis, from a bit prising a graphics terminal, interaction
display map memory onto the screen. devices, a processor, and a communica­
Repaint Redrawing of a display screen following tions link to the host system.
Ί0 CAD International Directory 1986
Recent developments in
computer-aided design and
engineering
R M Sim
Developments in CAD and CAE are described, with particu applications with a few systems offering symbols and
lar reference to the area of solid modelling. This paper also dimensioning. The second generation systems allowed for
outlines the efforts and successes (or otherwise) of some of associated nondimensional data and database management.
the leading CAD companies. The need for standards and the The third generation systems incorporated 3D descriptions,
problems inherent in their development are discussed. colour and interfaces to other packages such as finite
Finally, future trends in CAD are anticipated. element modelling (FEM). The fourth generation systems
extended their capabilities to include surface and solid
computer technology, computer-aided design, computer-aided modelling and kinematics.
engineering
While developers of CAD systems strive to consolidate
the facilities of the first four generations, a new fifth gene
Over the last two decades computer-aided design (CAD) has ration of CAD systems is beginning to unfold. This new
evolved into a reasonably stable tool that is well established generation benefits from the rapid technological changes
in the marketplace. In the past year, however, there have taking place in the hardware (both for computations and
been signs of significant upheavals in the industry caused graphics) and offers integrated software systems for solid
mainly by the forces of rapid technological change. CAD and surface modelling.
equipment is now benefiting from the considerable advances There is not much doubt that 1985 was the year of the
being made in the semiconductor industry; what was done engineering workstation and that this microcomputer-based
in software can now be done better and quicker in hard sector of the CADCAM market grew strongly at the expense
ware. More advanced concepts are emerging and being of the mainframe or large miniframe-based system with
incorporated in new devices. The advent of the personal dumb terminals. Inherent in the workstation concept is
computer (PC) and 32-bit workstations, and the use of net provision of local computing power and intelligence and
works to link them together, are opening up a new environ the ability to network into larger groupings with central
ment for the implementation of CAD techniques. databases and more powerful processing facilities. Network
At the same, time, manufacturing industry is striving to ing is now taken for granted by most vendors and users.
find ways to improve its competitiveness and one such way The use of hardware accelerators for computation and high
is to adopt CAD tools to help speed up the design process. performance graphics hardware for display has improved
Another way is to use computer-aided manufacturing response times a hundredfold as well as opening doors to
(CAM) in the production process and to forge closer links more sophisticated applications.
between design and production by integrating CAD with
The personal computer (PC) based CAD systems have
CAM (CADCAM). Nowhere is this more evident than in
also grown strongly and the IBM PC XT and AT, and their
the electronics industry where integrated computer-aided
compatible emulators, have been prominent. In the opera
engineering (CAE) is proving to be an absolute necessity
tion of the systems there have been improvements in the
to satisfy the need for shortlived products. A more long-
man—machine interface with facilities such as dynamic
term solution is to implement computer integrated manu
pop-up/down menus, icons, windows and more user
facturing (CIM) where the normal CADCAM functions are
friendly input devices (eg various types of mouse and even
linked to production, resources and financial control
voice control). Attention is being given to the incorpora
systems operating in real time.
tion of expert systems, mostly rule based, within the over
Better inventory and production control is being recog
all structure of CAD packages.
nised as a vital step to business efficiency and manufactur
ing resource planning (MRP II) and just in time (JIT) are
SOLID MODELLING
playing increasingly important roles in this.
The recent emphasis on integration of design, manufac A major trend that is beginning to impact on future system
turing and production management is highlighting the need developments is the emergence of a new generation of very
for standards and the past year has seen an increase in this powerful, solid modellers which promise to become the
activity. basic building blocks for future CAD systems. Until recent
ly the engineer in the mechanical engineering sector has had
DEVELOPMENTS IN CAD to decide on the level of CADCAM system which will suit
the bulk of his requirements, and this could come from a
CAD has passed through a number of distinct phases over
choice of 2D drafting, 3D wireframe, sculptured surfaces or
the last 15 years. The first generation included 2D drafting
solid modelling systems. His choice of one would virtually
exclude him from working in any of the other modes.
Crown copyright reprinted with permission of HMSO Controller This situation is now changing. New systems are being
CAD International Directory 1986 0408 255 552 0010-4485/85/100011-05 $03.00© 1985 Butterworth <& Co (Publishers) Ltd 11